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The author of Essential Reiki, Diane Stein writes a warning that although this historical account is accepted by relevant authorities, it may have been doctored by the West to make the esoteric practice of Reiki more palatable to Americans. She informs her readers that Reiki Master William Rand found no records of Usui's time at University, and no degrees earned. The Christian aspects of the story may have been fabricated (Stein 9). .
This ambiguity simply adds more mysterious seasoning to the simmering pot of this account. What is known accurately is that Usui returned to Japan, and with his new ability to read Sanskrit, found texts describing the formula for healing. However, in keeping with esoteric practices for safeguarding wisdom, the material did not give all the information necessary to achieve the healing. The 500-year-old text left out the crucial element of how to activate the healing energy and share it with others. Usui understood that he was given a clue, but must pass the test to achieve the power of the healing (Stein 12).
Usui's test was three weeks of fasting, prayer, and meditation on Mount Koriyama in Japan. Much like Christ himself going alone to the mountain to pray, the keys to activate perennial wisdom can only be found internally. Diane Stein records Usui's revelation:.
On the final morning of his quest, in the darkest hour just before dawn, Usui saw a projectile of light coming toward him. His first response was to run from it, but then he thought again. He decided to accept what was coming and the answer to his meditation, even if it resulted in his death. The light struck his third eye and he lost consciousness for a time. Then he saw 'millions and millions of rainbow bubbles' and finally the Reiki symbols as if on a screen. As he saw each of the symbols, he was given the information about each of them to activate the healing energy. It was the first Reiki attunement, the psychic rediscovery of an ancient method (Stein 12).